Xia Wanwan: The braised pork in her hand suddenly lost its appeal.
Are you really my grandfather?
Do you even hear what you're saying?
Fine! I treated you as my grandfather, and you want to send me off to study? What a vicious scheme! Take this! Have a taste of my braised pork!
She tossed the braised pork onto the table and turned her little face away, her chubby cheek puffed up in anger.
Minister Liu: Had he just heard the little one speaking?
Then, seeing her adorably indignant expression, he couldn't help laughing aloud.
"Oh dear, I've upset Wanwan. Grandpa apologizes. Come here and let Grandpa hold you."
Minister Liu held out his hands.
Xia Wanwan glanced at him, then turned away again, puffing out her cheeks even further.
Stinky Grandpa, take it back already.
"Two is indeed a little early to begin studying. Even my eldest brother didn't start his lessons until he was four. Wanwan is a girl; it's enough for her to grow up healthy."
Liu Wan spoke with a smile.
Hmph. That's more like it.
Xia Wanwan lifted her head and reluctantly stretched out her arms to let her grandfather hold her.
Minister Liu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He cradled her and coaxed her, letting her suck on the juices from the dishes. It was great fun.
Lady Liu smiled. "Wan'er, I heard you're looking for a cook to make baby food for Wanwan. Uncle Li in the Minister's Residence kitchens used to make it especially for you and your siblings. Take him with you when you go home."
Thinking of kindly Uncle Li, Liu Wan's heart softened. "Uncle Li is indeed a good cook. He used to be a renowned chef in the Capital."
Oh, am I getting a private chef?
Huh? That Uncle Li? Tsk, tsk, what a pity. According to the plot, Mother invited Uncle Li home to make baby food for the Male Lead, but before he even left the Minister's Residence, a spy hiding there killed him.
That spy was the Male Lead's grandfather, the mistress's father. Later, he helped the Male Lead poison everyone, drugged my little cousin unconscious, and killed my aunt.
After my aunt died, Uncle Emperor flew into a rage and had all fifty-eight members of the Minister's Residence executed.
Everyone at the table froze.
Minister Liu's chopstick-holding hand trembled. No one knew what he was thinking.
Lady Liu frowned slightly, seemingly weighing the truth of those words.
She had been doing her utmost to pretend she couldn't hear Wanwan's thoughts, but now she could no longer keep up the act.
Liu Wan's smile stiffened slightly. At last, at last, they were going to find the culprit.
The culprit who had brought ruin upon her entire family!
She said to Lady Liu, "Mother, I heard from the servants that an Uncle Xu joined the kitchens a few years ago. Apparently, he's quite a good cook. I'd like him and Uncle Li to compete so we can see whose cooking is better."
Lady Liu nodded. "I'll have them come and compete tomorrow. Although Uncle Xu has only been here a few years, he's quite good too."
"All right." Liu Wan smiled, having made up her mind.
The meal left the whole family uneasy, but Liu Ye, dressed in his wedding robes, was happily greeting guests outside. Before long, he finished his duties and returned to the bridal chamber.
Xia Zhao had lifted her veil long ago and was sampling pastries at the table.
Seeing Liu Ye return, she put down her pastry, stood, and threw herself into his arms.
"Careful. Mind your belly." Liu Ye sighed helplessly. His hand brushed the pearls and jade ornaments covering Xia Zhao's head, and his heart ached for her.
"No. You know how terribly I've missed you. I haven't seen you since Wanwan's one-month celebration. Let me hold you."
Xia Zhao mumbled, burying her head deeper in his embrace.
A faint scent of wine clung to Liu Ye. She breathed it in and felt warmth spread through her whole body.
Liu Ye smiled helplessly and held her as they sat on the couch. "I replaced the ceremonial wine with tea. When we go through the rituals later, you won't have to worry."
Xia Zhao nodded.
The nanny and maids who were to tease the newlyweds soon came in.
Following custom, the couple lifted the veil and drank with their arms linked. After saying a few things that made Xia Zhao blush, the others left.
The room grew warmer, and she let Liu Ye remove all her hair ornaments and her bridal crown.
After she washed her face, he tucked her into bed and coaxed her to rest.
But she pouted in displeasure and wrapped her arms around Liu Ye from behind. "What respectable couple spends their wedding night just sleeping?"
Liu Ye turned to look at her worriedly. "We have to be careful of the baby."
"It's already been three months. The imperial physician said the pregnancy is stable." Xia Zhao's eyes reddened slightly. "Don't you like me anymore?"
"I really don't know what to do with you." Liu Ye sighed and kissed her brows and eyes.
Once his kisses had her letting out little whimpers, he said, "I'll be careful."
Xia Zhao murmured her assent, rolled over on top of him, and reached out to tug off his clothes.
The next day.
Xia Zhao served Lady Liu tea. She dipped into a slight curtsy rather than kneeling as custom required, then offered Lady Liu the cup.
Lady Liu accepted it, overwhelmed by the honor.
"Zhao'er, now that you're married, custom dictates that you and Ye'er move to the Princess's Residence in three days. If anything there doesn't suit you, just send someone to tell me. And if Ye'er bullies you, don't put up with it. The women of our family enjoy a high standing."
Lady Liu's eyes shone with delight.
Xia Zhao obediently linked her arm through Lady Liu's and quickly assured her that she understood.
Beside them, Liu Ye pressed his lips together. Who would be bullying whom remained to be seen.
"Oh, right. My younger sister helped me so much yesterday. I thought I'd give her and Wanwan some gifts."
At that, Xia Wanwan flailed in Mother's arms, hoping for gold or something to eat.
Instead, a maid brought over two bolts of fabric.
Xia Wanwan's expression went blank.
Everyone else, however, was astonished.
Though the fabric's colors were subdued, its subtle patterns and delicate embroidery made its value obvious at a glance.
"Is this... Shu brocade from the Shu Brocade Bureau?"
Liu Wan was slightly startled by the sight. This wasn't something money alone could buy.
Shu brocade was hard to come by. It was said that only two bolts were produced each year. Moreover, the embroidery shimmered with silvery threads in the sunlight, while the reverse bore an entirely different floral design.
It was double-sided embroidery.
Shu brocade was rare enough on its own. With Jiangnan Double-Sided Embroidery covering such a vast expanse, even three years might not have been enough to produce these two bolts.
Yet Xia Zhao was simply giving them to her.
Xia Zhao didn't care in the slightest. "I already have several outfits made from this fabric. Every time Shu sends its tribute, he gives one bolt to me, one to my mother, the empress, and one to the Empress Dowager. Keeping these here would be no use to me now."
Mother, accept them. This fabric will be very useful later. Xia Wanwan sucked her finger.
She remembered that, according to the plot, these two bolts somehow ended up in the mistress's hands, and the mistress was arrested as a thief. Hehe.
Unable to turn down her kindness, Liu Wan had Pan Chun accept them.
Soon, it was time for lunch.
She and Lady Liu made a special trip to the kitchens to see Uncle Li and Uncle Xu.
After they explained why they had come, the two men each prepared baby food for Xia Wanwan before lunch began and brought it to the dining hall.
Liu Wan secretly had someone test it for poison before letting Xia Wanwan eat with peace of mind, leaving the choice to Xia Wanwan herself.
Xia Wanwan pointed at the thick meat soup and nodded, babbling, "Yum... my..."
Liu Wan chose Uncle Li.
Xu Bo's face darkened, and he left in displeasure.
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